RAKUTEN KOBO REVEALS THE NEW KOBO AURA H2O: ADVANCED VERSION OF THE ORIGINAL WATERPROOF EREADER

Just in time for summer, Kobo empowers passionate readers to enjoy worry-free reading wherever they go. Are you #BeachBookReady?

By Kobo

Toronto, ON – May 2, 2017 – Relaxing takes many forms, and many agree that reading is key, especially when it takes place near water whether in the bath, on the dock, by the pool, or at the beach.

In the service of relaxation and just in time for the summer reading season, Kobo, a global leader in eReading, today announces its newest addition to the family, the new Kobo Aura H2O—an updated version of the original crowd-pleasing waterproof eReader. The new device allows booklovers to easily read in direct sunlight due to its anti-glare E Ink display, for a print-on-paper like reading experience. ComfortLight PRO reduces blue-light spectrum, so while nail-biting thrillers may keep you up at night, the new Kobo Aura H2O will not.

The new Kobo Aura H2O will be available in black and will retail for $199.99 CAD (MSRP) in Canada at www.kobo.com and select retailers starting on May 22 (pre-orders will be available as of May 15); the device will also be available as of May 22 in the US, the UK, Italy, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, Japan, and Turkey; as of June in Sweden; as of July in Australia, New Zealand, and Philippines; with Mexico and Brazil to follow later this year.

Typically, technology and water don’t play well together, but this summer, they do. The new Kobo Aura H2O is the season’s must-have accessory to let avid readers enjoy their favourite stories in more places—relaxing in the bath, by the pool, or while on seaside excursions. The device is waterproofed* with HZO Protection™ for worry-free reading near water. The coating technology applied to the device’s interior allows it to be fully submerged without the need for port covers.

For night owls, ComfortLight PRO reduces blue-light exposure through the course of the day, so they can read even longer without it affecting their sleep. This innovative technology was introduced with the launch of Kobo Aura ONE last year, winning the seal of approval from Colleen Carney, Associate Professor and Director of the Sleep and Depression Laboratory at Ryerson University, who said devices that eliminate blue light work well for those who enjoy reading before bed; for more from Dr. Carney, click here.

Not sure which book to take on your daily adventures? Take them all. With 8GB of storage, the new Kobo Aura H2O stores up to 6,000 eBooks. A forgotten charger on cottage trips is no longer a cause for concern; with weeks of battery life, readers can enjoy a full book before needing a charge. The Freescale SoloLite processor ensures page turns are quick and seamless. What’s more, the 6.8” Carta E-Ink touchscreen displays print-quality text beautifully (265ppi).

No two booklovers are alike, and a customizable reading experience is a must. With TypeGenius, readers have many options to choose what suits them best, such as weight and sharpness settings, and the ability to choose from 50 font sizes and 11 font types. In addition, they can adjust margins, highlight passages, write notes, or look up a word with the built-in dictionary—all with the tap of a finger.

Michael Tamblyn, CEO of Rakuten Kobo, says: “The new Kobo Aura H2O enables book lovers to read anywhere and everywhere they go—to make the most out of every day and while on their summer holidays. No splash, intentional or not, will dampen their reading experience. When I head out to enjoy the summer with my family, beach bags are always jam-packed with snacks, sunscreen, and countless other necessities, including books. This device makes it possible to take your entire library with you, without having to choose which story to take along; take them all and make the most of that much-needed ‘me’ time.”

For a kick-start on summer reading lists, Kobo’s bookselling team has compiled captivating options to suit any reader’s taste:

*Meets requirements of IPX8 rating. Waterproof for up to 60 minutes in up to 2 metres of water.

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Notes to Editors:

If you would like more information or images, please contact the Rakuten Kobo PR team at pr@kobo.com.

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.

Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the world’s most innovative eReading services offering more than 5 million eBooks to millions of customers in 190 countries. Believing that consumers should have the freedom to read any book on any device, Kobo provides people with a choice when reading. Kobo offers an eReader for everyone with a wide variety of E Ink eReaders to suit any Reader’s style including the Kobo Aura, Kobo Aura H2O, and Kobo Aura ONE. Along with the company’s free top-ranking eReading apps for Apple®, BlackBerry®, Android®, and Windows®, Kobo ensures the next great read is just a page-turn away. Kobo’s award-wining eReaders can be found in major retail chains around the world. For more information, visit www.kobo.com.